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Three Democratic Party statewide candidates announced July 29 that they have received endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio.

Endorsed were Ed FitzGerald for governor and John Patrick Carney for auditor, and David Pepper for attorney general.

Ed FitzGerald

FitzGerald, who is Cuyahoga County executive is running against incumbent Gov. John Kasich.

Carney is a state representative and is running against incumbent Auditor Dave Yost.

John Patrick Carney

Pepper is running against incumbent Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The FOP is Ohio’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 25,000 members in more than 180 lodges.

FOP President Jay McDonald cited FitzGerald’s eight years in law enforcement and his promise to restore funding cuts to public safety in the endorsement.

David Pepper

“Communities across Ohio are experiencing an unprecedented heroin epidemic, but Ohio’s police have been left to fight that battle without state support,” McDonald said in a statement. “The reduction of the Local Government Fund has also severally impacted public safety across the board. We look forward to working with Governor FitzGerald to restore the local government fund, and to having a true partner in state government once again.”

The state Auditor’s Office is an important watchdog for Ohio taxpayers and an endorsement the FOP takes seriously, McDonald said.

“John Patrick Carney has proven to be a true friend of law enforcement during his time as State Representative,” McDonald said in a statement. “He is a man of integrity, honesty, and has a work ethic we believe will make him an outstanding Auditor of State.”

Pepper is tough, smart, and independent, McDonald said.

“He has vast experience partnering with law enforcement to fight crime. We know Pepper is the best choice to keep Ohioans safe as our next attorney general,” McDonald said in a statement.